Catheter Ablation of Pediatric Atrioventricular Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Electrophysiology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Catheter ablation is a standard treatment for symptomatic drug-refractory tachyarrhythmias in adults.
• Pediatric cases, especially in infants, are rare due to challenges with patient size and venous access.
• Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is a common supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in children.

Observation:

• A two-year-old child presented with symptomatic drug-refractory AVNRT.
• Radiofrequency ablation was performed using a 5-Fr catheter.
• Targeting the slow pathway region revealed characteristic electrophysiological signals.

Findings:

• Successful ablation at the slow pathway region was achieved.
• The procedure resulted in no recurrence of SVT during a 12-month follow-up period.
• This indicates the safety and efficacy of the intervention in a pediatric patient.

Implications:

• This case highlights the feasibility of catheter ablation for treating AVNRT in young children.
• It suggests that radiofrequency ablation can be a viable option for pediatric patients with refractory SVT.
• Further research may expand the application of ablation in pediatric electrophysiology.